Cost of Living in Yakima, WA
Yakima, WA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Yakima, WA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Yakima, WA?
With a price level of 95.5 (U.S. average = 100), Yakima, WA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 27% below average; everyday goods run 5% above average; utilities are 8% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Yakima, WA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 95.5 | −4.5% |
| Housing | 72.6 | −27.4% |
| Goods | 105.0 | +5.0% |
| Utilities | 91.9 | −8.1% |
| Other services | 99.5 | −0.5% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Yakima, WA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,040 | $41,600/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,047 | $41,880/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,374 | $54,960/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,911 | $76,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,093 | $83,720/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Yakima, WA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Yakima, WA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,200 | $32,874 |
| $60,000 | $57,300 | $48,221 |
| $80,000 | $76,400 | $62,577 |
| $100,000 | $95,500 | $76,014 |
| $150,000 | $143,300 | $109,212 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Washington 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Yakima, WA's median wage of $47,810 takes home about $3,383 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,047, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,336 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Yakima, WA
- Federal income tax$3,557
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,964
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,595
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Yakima, WA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $44,490 | $37,928 | $39,696 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $39,070 | $33,573 | $35,138 |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,640 | $31,620 | $33,095 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $35,830 | $30,969 | $32,413 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Washington cities
Half of Washington’s 3,550,970 workers earn less than $62,990 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $47,020–$101,710 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Seattle, WA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Wenatchee, WA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $72,610 | 111.1 | $2,022 | 40% | $2,971 | $53,909 |
| Portland, OR | $60,690 | 105.4 | $1,677 | 40% | $2,568 | $48,325 |
| Spokane, WA | $54,660 | 100.3 | $1,168 | 30% | $2,674 | $45,940 |
| Olympia, WA | $61,960 | 103.7 | $1,682 | 39% | $2,648 | $50,125 |
| Kennewick, WA | $57,290 | 100.1 | $1,268 | 32% | $2,750 | $48,174 |
| Yakima, WA | $47,810 | 95.5 | $1,047 | 31% | $2,336 | $42,488 |
| Bremerton, WA | $63,200 | 105.6 | $1,548 | 35% | $2,865 | $50,149 |
| Bellingham, WA | $57,820 | 103.3 | $1,493 | 37% | $2,560 | $47,069 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $59,590 | 102.4 | $1,311 | 31% | $2,861 | $48,867 |
| Wenatchee, WA | $49,290 | 103.9 | $1,143 | 33% | $2,339 | $40,234 |
| Longview, WA | $57,420 | 97.5 | $1,199 | 30% | $2,827 | $49,533 |
| Lewiston, ID | $48,300 | 91.2 | $931 | 27% | $2,485 | $44,964 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $53,100 | 98.5 | $1,181 | 32% | $2,556 | $45,520 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Yakima, WA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | 95.5 | $1,047 | $47,810 | 97,010 |
| Binghamton, NY | 92.9 | $868 | $49,460 | 97,030 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 89.4 | $1,033 | $46,190 | 97,190 |
| Athens, GA | 93.3 | $1,183 | $41,220 | 95,800 |
| Slidell, LA | 92.7 | $1,130 | $43,710 | 98,240 |
| Fort Smith, AR | 85.9 | $714 | $39,560 | 95,560 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 109.9 | $3,298 | $54,730 | 98,500 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Yakima, WA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Yakima, WA metro area are 95.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 72.6%. It is the #157 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Yakima, WA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,327 in Yakima, WA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,810.
Can you afford Yakima, WA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,810 median wage takes home about $3,383 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,047 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Yakima, WA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Yakima, WA are $1,040 for a studio, $1,047 for one bedroom, $1,374 for two bedrooms and $1,911 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Yakima, WA
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $44,490
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $35,830
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $36,640